Timing measurements between wireless stations with reduced power consumption

Abstract

A method of obtaining timing parameters between wireless station peers using reduced power. A timing measurement protocol is executed a including a plurality of Timing Measurement Action (TMA) frames between a first wireless station (STA 1 ) and a second STA (STA 2 ) within a wireless network. The plurality of TMA frames span a communications interval and include timing information. A power-save protocol is employed by at least one of STA 1 and STA 2 during execution of the timing measurement protocol during one or more sub-intervals between the plurality of TMA frames. STA 1 or STA 2 computes at least one timing parameter using the timing information.

1 . A method of obtaining timing parameters between wireless station peers using reduced power, comprising:
 executing a timing measurement protocol including a plurality of Timing Measurement Action (TMA) frames between a first wireless station (STA 1 ) and a second STA (STA 2 ) within a wireless network, wherein said plurality of TMA frames span a communications interval and include timing information,   wherein a power-save protocol is employed by at least one of said STA 1  and said STA 2  during said executing of said timing measurement protocol during one or more sub-intervals between said plurality of TMA frames, and   said STA 1  or said STA 2  computing at least one timing parameter using said timing information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network includes an access point (AP), wherein said STA 1  and said STA 2  are connected to said AP, further comprising setting up a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) session between said STA 1  and said STA 2  using said AP, wherein said TDLS session is used for said executing of said timing measurement protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises specifying a power save mechanism to be enabled between said STA 1  and said STA 2  before or during said TDLS session. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said power save mechanism comprises a peer power save mode comprising scheduled power-save management (PSM) or an unscheduled automatic power save delivery (U-APSD). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when said timing measurement protocol is executed only once, further comprising performing a TDLS teardown procedure at said STA 1  or said STA 2  after said timing measurement protocol is executed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when said timing measurement protocol is executed multiple times, further comprising implementing a TDLS Peer Power Save Mode (TDLS Peer PSM) to reduce power consumption during an idle wait time between successive executions of said timing measurement protocol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of said STA 1  and said STA 2  acts as a Wi-Fi Direct Group Owner (Soft AP) in said wireless network, and wherein said timing measurement protocol is executed multiple times, further comprising implementing a Wi-Fi Direct periodic Notice of Absence (NoA) power-save procedure to doze said STA 1  and said STA 2  between at least one successive instance of said timing measurement protocol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein parameters for said NoA power-save procedure are negotiated by a NoA action frame or during a beacon transmissions by said STA 2  while acting as said Soft AP. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said parameters for said NoA power-save procedure include a start time, an interval, a duration and a count, wherein said start time represents a time for an initial doze, said interval being set to a periodicity of said timing measurement protocol and said duration being set to a dozing period, and wherein said count indicates a number of times said NoA power-save procedure is to be implemented. 
     
     
         10 . A wireless station (STA), comprising:
 a wireless transceiver coupled to an antenna;   a processor coupled to said transceiver having associated memory that stores computer executable instructions for a reduced power timing measurement protocol algorithm that when executed by said processor cause said processor to perform:   executing a timing measurement protocol including a plurality of Timing Measurement Action (TMA) frames between said STA and another STA within a wireless network, wherein said plurality of TMA frames span a communications interval and include timing information,   wherein a power-save protocol is employed by said STA during execution of said timing measurement protocol during one or more sub-intervals between said plurality of TMA frames.   
     
     
         11 . The STA of  claim 10 , wherein said wireless network includes an access point (AP), wherein said STA and said another STA are connected to said AP, wherein said reduced power timing measurement protocol algorithm that when executed by said processor further causes said processor to perform a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) session setup between said STA and said another STA using said AP, and wherein said TDLS session is used for said executing of said timing measurement protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein said reduced power timing measurement protocol algorithm that when executed by said processor further causes said processor to perform specifying a power save mechanism to be enabled between said STA and said another STA before or during said TDLS session. 
     
     
         13 . The STA of  claim 12 , wherein said power save mechanism comprises a peer power save mode comprising scheduled power-save management (PSM) or a peer unscheduled automatic power save delivery (U-APSD). 
     
     
         14 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein when said timing measurement protocol is executed only once, said reduced power timing measurement protocol algorithm that when executed by said processor further causes said processor to perform a TDLS teardown procedure at said STA after said timing measurement protocol is executed. 
     
     
         15 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein when said timing measurement protocol is executed multiple times, said reduced power timing measurement protocol algorithm that when executed by said processor further causes said processor to perform implementing a TDLS Peer Power Save Mode (TDLS Peer PSM) to reduce power consumption during an idle wait time between successive executions of said timing measurement protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The STA of  claim 10 , wherein one of said STA and said another STA act as a Wi-Fi Direct Group Owner (Soft AP) on said wireless network, and wherein said timing measurement protocol is executed multiple times, said reduced power timing measurement protocol algorithm that when executed by said processor further causes said processor to perform implementing a Wi-Fi Direct periodic Notice of Absence (NoA) power-save procedure to doze said STA between at least one successive instance of said timing measurement protocol. 
     
     
         17 . The STA of  claim 16 , wherein parameters for said NoA power-save procedure are negotiated by a NoA action frame or during a beacon transmissions by said STA while acting as said Soft AP. 
     
     
         18 . The STA of  claim 10 , further comprising a GPS module, wherein said GPS module is coupled to said transceiver and said transceiver is coupled to a GPS antenna, wherein said STA comprises a WiFi plus GPS STA. 
     
     
         19 . A method of obtaining timing parameters between wireless station peers using reduced power, comprising:
 setting up a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) session between a first wireless station (STA 1 ) and a second STA (STA 2 ) using an access point (AP) within a wireless network;   executing a timing measurement protocol including a plurality of Timing Measurement Action (TMA) frames between said STA 1  and said STA 2 , wherein said plurality of TMA frames span a communications interval and include timing information, and wherein said TDLS session is used for said executing of said timing measurement protocol;   wherein a power-save protocol is employed by at least one of said STA 1  and said STA 2  during said executing of said timing measurement protocol during one or more sub-intervals between said plurality of TMA frames, and   said STA 1  or said STA 2  computing at least one timing parameter using said timing information.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said method further comprises specifying a power save mechanism to be enabled between said STA 1  and said STA 2  before or during said TDLS session, said power save mechanism comprising a peer power save mode comprising scheduled power-save management (PSM) or an unscheduled automatic power save delivery (U-APSD).